DUNCAN, P/O John Douglas (J19955) - Distinguished Flying Cross - No.9 Squadron - Award effective 19 June 1944 as per London Gazette dated 30 June 1944 and AFRO 1861/44 dated 25 August 1944. Born 23 February 1923 at Antler, Saskatchewan (birth date on MI.9 report); home there (truck driver); enlisted in Winnipeg, 24 July 1941 and immediately posted to No.2A Manning Depot. To No.4 Training Command and No.36 SFTS for non-flying duties, 8 August 1941. To No.4 ITS, 1 September 1941; graduated 3 October 1941 and promoted LAC; to No.6 EFTS, 9 October 1941; to No.11 SFTS, 5 December 1941; promoted Sergeant, 24 March 1942. To \"Y\" Depot, 28 March 1942. To RAF overseas, 30 April 1942. Further trained at No.19 OTU, Kinloss. Repatriated 23 September 1943. To \"Y\" Depot again, 6 November 1943; taken on strength of No.3 PRC, Bournemouth, 23 November 1943. Commissioned 5 January 1944. Repatriated to Canada, 21 August 1945. Released 22 October 1945. No citation other than \"completed...many successful operations against the enemy in which [he has] displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty.\" DFC and Bar sent by registered mail, 11 March 1949. Public Records Office Air 2/9015 has recommendation dated 13 April 1944 when he had flown 28 sorties (173 hours 20 minutes): 4 April 1943 - Dortmund (6.10) 26 April 1943 - Duisburg (5.05) 12 May 1943 - Duisburg (4.35) 13 May 1943 - Pilsen (7.25) 29 May 1943 - Elberfeld (6.00) 11 June 1943 - Dusseldorf (4.50) 12 June 1943 - Bochum (5.20) 14 June 1943 - Oberhausen (4.40) 22 June 1943 - Mulheim (4.45) 24 June 1943 - Elberfeld (5.35) 28 June 1943 - Cologne (5.35) 8 July 1943 - Cologne (5.40) 9 July 1943 - Gelsenkirchen (5.40) 14 January 1944 - Brunswick (6.35 20 January 1944 - Berlin (7.35) 21 January 1944 - Berlin (7.20) 27 January 1944 - Berlin (8.25) 30 January 1944 - Berlin (6.30) 15 February 1944 - Berlin (6.45) 19 February 1944 - Leipzig (7.40) 20 February 1944 - Stuttgart (7.45) 24 February 1944 - Schweinfurt (8.10) 1 March 1944 - Stuttgart (early return) 15 March 1944 - Stuttgart (8.00) 18 March 1944 - Frankfurt (6.05) 22 March 1944 - Frankfurt (5.40) 24 March 1944 - Berlin (7.40) 30 March 1944 - Nuremburg (8.30) In July 1943, when half-way through a tour of operations, this officer was shot down over enemy territory. He took to his parachute and then to his feet and, after a few weeks in Europe, reported back to his squadron with the request that he be allowed to complete his tour, which had been subject to such an unmannerly interruption. This request was granted and Pilot Officer Duncan has now completed 28 successful sorties. Every one in the fourteen sorties in the second half of his tour has been against distant German targets, and Pilot Officer Duncan has taken full advantage of these opportunities of settling his personal score. On 22 April 1944 the Commanding Officer, RAF Station Waddington, added a note that illustrates the awkwardness with which some recommendations were handled: A most determined and resolute Captain who has rendered first class service to the war effort in the air. It is therefore a matter of regret that the end of his tour should be marred by an unsavoury disciplinary incident on the ground. Action in this matter is not yet complete, but I feel compelled to forward this recommendation and place Pilot Officer Duncan\'s name high in my order of priority. Presumably this \"disciplinary incident\" was resolved in some way; the Air Officer Commander No.5 Group supported the recommendation on 2 May 1944. Public Record Office WO 208/3314 has the MI.9 report of 1499890 Sergeant Gerard Bartley (RAF), 1127645 Sergeant Sidney Hughes (RAF) and Sergeant Duncan. They had cleared Gibraltar on 1 September 1943, reaching Whitchurch on 2 September (interviewed 2-3 September 1943). They reported being airborne from Bardney (near Lincoln) in a Lancaster, 2230 hours on 9 July 1943 for a raid on Gelsenkirchen, being hit by flak near Cambrai about 0215 hours of 10 July 1943 and baling out. That portion of the report pertaining to Duncan read as follows: I landed in a cornfield just east of Cambrai and immediately hid my parachute and Mae West. I walked southeast across country till daybreak and then slept in a haystack till 1100 hours. I continued across country, passing through a small town, where a boy gave me a loaf of bread and showed me on my map where I was. About 1800 hours I went to a farmhouse near Cambrai and got food and shelter. I set off about 0500 hours next day (11 July). About noon I stopped at a farmhouse and told the people I was English. They took me to another house, where I got food and shelter for the night. Next day (12 July) I was taken by car to Chauny, where I was sheltered for eight days. Bartley, Hughes and Duncan had each been brought to Chauny, and their subsequent journeys were arranged for them. DUNCAN, F/L John Douglas, DFC (J19955) - Bar to Distinguished Flying Cross - No.83 Squadron - Award effective 5 July 1945 as per London Gazette dated 17 July 1945 and AFRO 1507/45 dated 28 September 1945. As pilot and captain of aircraft this officer has set a fine example of courage and leadership. He has shown outstanding enthusiasm and determination on all his operations, often against the strongest enemy opposition. Flight Lieutenant Duncan\'s great courage and devotion to duty are worthy of the highest praise.